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another question for the Levemir users

rainbow fish

Active Member
Messages
30
Hi
am I right in thinking that Levemir starts working about 6 hours after its injected, and theoretically works for 24 hours? At the moment I take my daily dose at around 8pm and if the above is true it means that any down time between the doses is at around 2am, which is probably fine. However, if one dose is running out sometime near to 8pm and the next one kicking in, I'm basically lowest on insulin when I have the evening meal. The BSL readings are all reasonably stable so there is no big problem, but of course as much information as possible is helpful for making sure things stay good.
cheers
bruce
 
Hi RF,

When my girls were on Levemir, my understanding was that it started to work almost immediately, but with a very gradual rise and then almost 'flat' profile, finally tailing off anywhere from 18 - 22 hrs later. If you are on Novorapid too for your meal boluses I don't think it should make too much difference?
Sue
 
The dose affects how long it lasts, a large dose lasts longer than a small one.
 
Hi Sue and LittleSue
thanks for that information, its greatly appreciated. At the moment I take 24 units of Levemir with 1000mg metformin morning and evening, no short acting insulin at the moment. As I said, the readings are all looking OK and if my weight loss continues I should be looking at reducing the insulin or metformin sometime in the next months, but at the stage of being relaxed enough about the whole injecting thing to look objectively at it without panic and want to know exactly how it all fits together!
thanks again for the help,
take care
b
 
LittleSue said:
The dose affects how long it lasts, a large dose lasts longer than a small one.

That surprises me, LittleSue, as my girls were on hugely differing amounts, 4 units for the 4 yr old (once a day), and 45 units for the older one (also once a day). I was always given to understand that the profile of the Levemir was the same and it should achieve the same thing for each child even though the doses were vastly different. It is true to say though, that giving too much to either child would induce hypos, but always within the 18 -22 hour limit.

It is academic for us now in any event as they are both currently on pumps.
Sue
 
i think levemir starts working about 2 hours after injection.... i take 16 units at 10am and 15 units at 10pm. it doewsn't last much over 12 hours for me!!

we're all different!

Stu
 
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